'Skylanders: Swap Force' Preview: We Play Test Activision's New Toys 'N' Games Mash-Up

'Skylanders Swap Force' is the latest adventure in the ridiculously popular toys-and-games combo, out 18 October on Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, and next-gen consoles at launch.

The Pitch:

"Embark on a new adventure in Skylanders SWAP Force. The new game introduces the SWAP Force Skylanders characters. These Skylanders have the unique ability to mix and match their top and bottom parts to create new characters with different in-game abilities and powers."

Key Features:

New two-part figures let you mix-and-match abilities mid-game

256 new combinations possible

All characters can now jump

Full compatibility with existing Spyro's Adventure and Skylanders Giants figures, with all upgrades and levels

Our Impressions:

'Skylanders Swap Force' is going to please a lot of kids, and sell a lot of toys. While at its core it's a similar take on the Skylanders formula, the addition of the Swap Force figures - which can be pulled apart mid-game and clicked together to make new creations with different abilities - are very inventive and well-done. Even the magnetic 'click' itself is satisfying.

The addition seems small, but in gameplay terms it introduces a lot of new possibilities for puzzles and tactics. Some combinations are going to work better than others for different enemies, and some doors will only be open to the right mixture of figures. Neat.

Oh, and all Skylanders can now do something fundamental that for some reason they haven't managed to do before. Something amazing. Something… extraordinary.

Jump.

That's right, all Skylanders can now lean down and push off the ground, rising their bodies into the air in order to clear obstacles. It sounds silly, but this alone turns the game into something more enjoyable and kinetic to play.